Tag: simple

It’s been a long time, so this first week of 2019 I’m sharing a just-finished, easy-to-make loom knit, wool infinity scarf.

I’m not new to loom knitting, but wanted to challenge myself beyond a basic e wrapped hat, so I looked (for the first time) to Craftsy https://www.craftsy.com/ for an easy-to-make project. There I found a pattern for this double knit infinity scarf using a 38 peg oblong loom. That patterns are rated for level of difficulty made it easy for me to choose one I felt confident tackling. Even so, getting this cast on and into the groove of the four row pattern was tough at first; after that-cake!

What a lovely wool lap blanket while working on it!

Icelandic cream colored wool used.

So here it is-ready to go out on a cold, windy day without any ends to flap around!

Though I’m happy with the outcome of this easy loom knit scarf, I plan to do another with a more colorful, multi yarn. And after that, back to Craftsy for more inspiring projects!

Most of the time I seem to have too much on my plate to commit to a major creation, so I lean toward simple ones that can be completed in a single sitting. Alas, this same situation applies to the songs I come up with, but I feel happier completing something rather than nothing, and I suspect that this is true for many. I also lean toward reuse, and simple hats certainly qualify here.

The three hats pictured are super easy creations that are fun to do and can be put together in under an hour. Below is a stretchy beret style hat that consists of six pie shaped panels cut from an old sweatshirt. These were sewn together to make a circle, which was then gathered and pinned onto the band, which is simply two old socks less the feet. Stitch these two pieces together, and you’ve got a new hat!

Upcycled sweatshirt and socks into beret style hat

The retro brown-orange hat with green band was put together in the same way, both fabrics from stretchy knit ts and tanks. Doubling the band fabric gives it stability and a more finished look.

Upcycled t shirts made into beret

The last hat has a little bit of a backstory to it…

A few years ago my band https://www.facebook.com/betterbettyrocker was planning a casual photo shoot, and naturally the topic of what to wear came up. We decided on black and white, with some sort of hat. I thought I might like to wear a pillbox style hat, but found vintage ones to be more than I wanted to spend just for this occasion. After band practice one day, I was lamenting this situation to Carolyn and she said that I would probably just make one out of an oatmeal box…it’s exactly what I did!

Pillbox inspired hat made from oatmeal box

With a glue gun I attached an old linen napkin, lace, braid and faux pearls. It was a bit heavy, not perfect, and indeed had to be pinned to my hair for the photos but for that purpose was just the ticket-and so much fun!

Wearing my oatmeal box pillbox hat for the Betty Rocker photo shoot

Betty Rocker

If time ever permits I’d love to try my hand at a more serious endeavor. Do you have a favorite funny hat of your own?

If you have a favorite old t shirt (perhaps an old concert t for rock and roll flavor) that you’re unable to part with but are no longer wearing, you can easily fashion it into a casual slipcover for a round ottoman, such as this one:

For this project you’ll need a basic sewing machine, an old t shirt, a round ottoman (although this method will work on an oval shape as well), fabric shears, a marker, piece of fabric for ottoman top plus a couple of inches for seam allowance, thread, pins and a measuring tape. A steam iron is helpful but not necessary.

Slip t shirt over ottoman and decide where the bottom edge will be. You’ll be using the existing hem as the bottom edge. Measure, adding two inches for seam allowance. My ottoman is 11″ and so will be cut to 13″

Lay as flat and evenly as you can on your cutting surface. (It’s helpful to align edges and press first)

Cut at predetermined distance from bottom hem. Mine was 13″

Set aside the side panel, and lay your top piece face down on your cutting surface. Put the ottoman upside down on this fabric and, using a felt marker lightly draw line around ottoman. (Holding marker parallel to ottoman side makes it easier) This line will serve as your seam guide when attaching top. Measure and mark at several points 2″ out from this line for your seam allowance.

Cut out top piece along those points.

Moving your attention back to the side panel, measure circumference of ottoman. If your shirt exceeds this measurement, cut it down the side, measure and add one inch to the circumference measurement. Then pin and stitch this side. Press seam open.

You can skip this step if your t shirt already “fits” your ottoman.

Turn side panel inside out and pull over ottoman and adjust so that hem is as even as possible. Then take top piece and place face down on top of ottoman. You should have your inked line facing you. Pin along this line, making sure that t shirt edge is as even as possible with top piece edge. The t fabric tends to roll a bit.